CSAF visits Spangdahlem AB. Lewentz gave the plaque to Epperson as appreciation of the friendship and partnership between the 52nd FW and Rheinland-Pfalz. [13] In February 2012, it was announced that the 81st Fighter Squadron would be inactivated in 2013, leaving the 52d Fighter Wing with just one squadron. Also in early 1993, the 81st FS was reorganized to fly a mixture of F-4Gs and Block 30 F-16C/Ds. After 1969 the two 36th TFW assigned squadrons, 23rd TFS in F-4Cs and 39th TEWS in EB-66E and 2 EB-66C's were back in the runway alert facility, previously used by 49 TFW F-105s and F-4s, reactivated in Dec 1969. On 9 March 1967, the Wing began receiving the McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II. On 25 August 1959, the 10th TRW ended its six-year stay at Spangdahlem and moved to RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom.[5]. The 49th TFW was only the third USAF unit to operate the F-105. Although it did not have any assigned aircraft, the 7149 TFW would have served as a nucleus on which to build if the 49 TFW had been ordered to return to Europe to bolster NATO air forces. The Wing hosted Roger Lewentz, Minister of the Interior for the State of Rheinland-Pfalz, and presented a mission brief of Spangdahlem AB's goals and operations. A complete reorganization of wing aircraft and aircrews occurred in November 1983, transforming the 52d TFW into the first and only all-defense suppression wing outside of the United States. The initial USAF military presence began on 1 September 1952 with the arrival of the 7352d Air Base Squadron on 1 September 1952 from Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base near Munich. EB-66s were too large and remained parked around the ramp at the large hangar. The 39 TEWS was disbanded and personnel reassigned on 1 January 1973. The 49th received two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for F-105 operations at Spangdahlem. [8] Squadrons from the 36 TFW assigned to Spangdahlem were: The 23 TFS carried out tactical fighter training missions, while the 39 TEWS was a newly formed squadron to conduct electronic warfare missions and train ground radar site crews all around NATO in electronic warfare based on SEA strike force experience needed to protect the fleet against SAM, AAA and fighter aircraft based in the East Iron Curtain Soviet Block nations. Eric Gerke, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief unveils the name of Col. Jason Bailey, incoming 52nd Fighter Wing commander, on the wing’s flagship F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft during the wing change of command ceremony in Hangar 1 at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Aug. 29, 2017. Investigation showed that during routine maintenance, mechanics had crossed and mis-connected the control rods. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alison Stewart), U.S. Air Force Col. David Epperson, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, gives a tour of an F-16 Fighting Falcon in a hangar at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Aug. 28, 2020. One of the mechanics, TSgt. This movement of squadrons came about due to the introduction of the AFM 66-1 combined maintenance concept. The Air Mobility Command 726th Air Mobility Squadron at Spangdahlem supports cargo and passenger traffic as part of its airlift mission, providing command and control, maintenance and aerial port capability to all AMC aircraft transiting their ramp.[20]. Under the EIC, the Department of Defense will make changes to the mission at Spangdahlem Air Base, including the relocation of the 606th Air Control Squadron to Aviano Air Base, Italy, in order to free up requisite space and infrastructure for future inclusion of the 352d Special Operations Group from RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. In turn, it was replaced in the electronic warfare role by the 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron, flying the McDonnell Douglas EF-4C Phantom II, being transferred to Spangdahlem from Zweibrücken Air Base, Germany under project "Creek Action" on 15 January 1973. SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein visited Spangdahlem Air Base, July 19, to meet with base leaders, to host an all call and to attend an official ceremony. On 10 May 1953 the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was reassigned to Spangdahlem AB from Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France. On 29 July 2020, the US Department of Defense announced that the US military would be reducing its presence from Spangdahlem Air Base. After the restructuring and the closure of Bitburg and transfer of 36 FW squadrons to Spangdahlem, the operational squadrons of the 52d Fighter Wing were: In May 1995 Major Grey Lowry was killed when his 53d Fighter Squadron F-15C crashed at Spangdahlem AFB. Inactivated then reactivated as a new USAFE wing, the new Wing Commander was to be the first black USAFE Wing CO Col Thomas E Clifford who had been 35th TFW DCO at Da Nang AB Viet Nam. Near same time, plans to modify the early turbo jet engines to modern high bypass design were not considered with plans to retire the 1950s design in very few years and end of SEA needs. As the squadron prepared for its inactivation in March 1999, all of the F-15s were transferred to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB, Virginia (USA), or to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. [22] Following the announcement, officials at the 52nd Fighter Wing said that Spangdahlem would remain open to carry out other missions carried out by the wing, which are separate from F-16 operations. Group consists of civil engineer, communications, contracting, logistics readiness, security forces and force support squadrons: Consists of aerospace medicine, dental, medical operations and medical support squadrons: Provides four fully capable U.S. munitions support squadrons responsible for the ownership, custody, accountability and release of war reserve munitions supporting Belgian, Dutch, German and Italian air forces: The wing supports the Supreme Allied Commander Europe with mission-ready personnel and systems providing expeditionary air power. "E" Alert was for ECM. 20 F-16Cs were flown to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard and one F-16 was transferred to Edwards Air Force Base, California. [23], Media related to Spangdahlem Air Base at Wikimedia Commons, sfn error: no target: CITEREFKlemnerCunningham1995 (, US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, US Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa, Spangdahlem Air Base: Factsheet Base History, 480th activated as Spangdahlem's newest F-16 squadron, DoD announces changes to affect Spangdahlem, Theater security package begins rotation in Europe, Aircraft Deploy to Europe to Boost Interoperability With Allies, U.S. Department of Defense, Military Installations: Spangdahlem AB, Germany, "Trump's plan to pay for border wall with Air Force funds risks national security, report says", 726th Air Mobility Squadron passenger terminal, "U.S. European Command Force Posture Policy Press Conference: Secretary Esper's Opening St", "Spangdahlem: Loss of Fighter Mission Doesn't Mean the End of the Base", USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present, GlobalSecurity.org Spangdahlem (source of history), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spangdahlem_Air_Base&oldid=982285549, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 1st Tactical Reconnaissance RB-26C, RB-57A, 38th Tactical Reconnaissance RF-80A, RF-80F, 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RB/EB-66, 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RB-66B, 42d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RB/WB-66, 23d Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-4D, Tail Code: BS, red tail stripe), 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (EB-66E and EB-66C, Tail Code: BV, green tail stripe), 23d Tactical Fighter (F-4D, Tail Code: SP, blue tail stripe), 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare (EB-66E and C, Tail Code: SP, yellow tail stripe), 23d Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-4D w/ blue tail stripe, tail code: SP) "Fighting Hawks", 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron (EF-4C w/ yellow tail stripe, tail code: SP) "Wild Weasels", 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-4D w/ red tail stripe, tail code: SP) "Warhawks", 23d Fighter (F-16CJ/D Blue tail stripe, Code: SP), 22d Fighter (F-16CJ/D Red tail stripe, Code: SP), 81st Fighter (A/OA-10A Yellow tail stripe, Code: SP), This page was last edited on 7 October 2020, at 06:44. In April 1987, the 52d began changing with the times and replaced its aging Phantoms with Block 30/32 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons for the 23d and 480th TFSs. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. With the creation of NATO in response to Cold War tensions in Europe, USAFE wanted its vulnerable fighter units in West Germany moved west of the Rhein River to provide greater air defense warning time. It was decided to keep aircraft of one general type in the same units for maintenance and supply considerations. The 726th AMS utilizes various aircraft maintenance equipment, de-icers, mission vehicles and aircraft loaders. [14], In February 2015, the 354th Fighter Squadron was deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to Spangdahlem in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve with twelve A-10Cs and approximately 300 airmen. In September the 52d participated in EAGLE’S TALON-97, the first bilateral exercise involving US and Polish Air Forces. "V" or Victor Alert denoted nuclear forces from the British bombers Victor and Vulcan beginning with that letter. With the withdrawal of the Phantoms, the 510th Fighter Squadron was replaced by the 81st FS at Spangdahlem and was transferred to Ramstein Air Base to absorb the F-16 assets of the 512th FS there. The Wing hosted Roger Lewentz, Minister of the Interior for the State of Rheinland-Pfalz, and presented a mission brief of Spangdahlem AB's goals and operations. In 1957 the RB-57s and RF-84s were transferred to Chateauroux-Deols Air Depot and the 1st and 38th were re-equipped with the Douglas RB-66 Destroyer. Three additional squadrons, the 19th and 30th (8 January 1958) and 42d Tactical Reconnaissance (8 December 1957) were assigned to the 10th TRW from the 66th TRW,(Sembach AB), flying variants of the RB-66. U.S. Air Force Col. David Epperson, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, gives a tour of an F-16 Fighting Falcon in a hangar at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Aug. 28, 2020. During this period the hardened NATO "Tab-V" shelters were constructed at both bases while operations around them continued. Spangdahlem base was constructed between 1951 and 1953 at a cost of roughly $27,000,000 using French and German contractors, working under the supervision of a French government agency. In November 2005, the first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft arrived at Spangdahlem. By By Airman 1st Class Alison Stewart Epperson led the tour and gave German parliamentarians insight on the base mission and partnership support. On 1 January 1977, the 52 TFW had the following operational squadrons: In 1979, the more capable Wild Weasel F-4G had replaced the EF-4Cs of the 81 TFS, and in 1980 through 1982, F-4Es replaced the F-4Ds of the 23d and 480th TFSs. The old 49th Wing HQ mostly vacant while 7149th inactive era was assigned a few personnel to begin the transition in October 1971. PHOTO DETAILS / DOWNLOAD HI-RES 1 of 3. [12] As a result of the drawdown of F-16s, the 22d and 23d Fighter Squadrons were inactivated on 13 August 2010 and formed a single "new" squadron, the 480th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alison Stewart), U.S. Air Force Col. David Epperson, 52nd Fighter Wing Commander, receives a plaque from Roger Lewentz, Minister of the Interior for the State of Rheinland-Pfalz, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Aug. 28, 2020. In addition, Air Mobility Command supports cargo and passenger traffic as part of its airlift mission.